The summer holiday season is almost upon us, and that means it is time for this year’s special summertime entertainment at SeaWorld San Diego. They call it SeaWorld San Diego’s Summer Spectacular and, as an annual member, I was invited to the member preview last week.
It was a jam-packed four hours of entertainment, beginning with the newly refreshed, education-focused, “Orca Encounter,” complete with new music and new video.
SeaWorld San Diego is dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding of, and connection to, the magnificent orcas, and to promoting conservation. Orcas are the ocean’s most powerful predators, with masterful hunting techniques and complex communication codes. The role of families is important to them, as is play. Here are some excerpts from the Orca Encounter presentation:
“It is up to us to protect and safeguard the lives of marine animals for future generations. Killer whales and all marine animals need us now more than ever. Our oceans are facing significant changes and it is up to all of us to ensure that they’re healthy for years to come. The challenges oceans face can seem insurmountable but, when we work together, anything is possible.”
“By properly disposing of trash and encouraging others to do the same, we can help prevent pollution from entering our world’s oceans. It’s a simple act, but one that has a significant impact. … Be curious about the ocean and its inhabitants, while maintaining a safe and respectful distance away from them.”
During the presentation, interactions between the pod of orcas and their trainers demonstrate the playful, energetic nature of whales as they learn new things, spend time with their trainers and assist other whales in learning new behaviors. We also gain insight into how the animal care specialists care for the whales.
A word of warning: people seated in the front rows will almost certainly get wet!
Before and after the presentations, you can enjoy the orcas close-up, from the underwater viewing area, as they “swim, glide and play in the water right before your eyes.”
Head on over to Bayside Amphitheater for “Pirates Ahoy! The Battle for Mermaid Cove” — an exciting, “swashbuckling adventure on the high seas,” played out on-stage and in the waters of Mission Bay, complete with high-flying personal watercraft, an aerialist mermaid, fight scenes where pirates end up falling into the bay, and spectacular pyrotechnics.
The stunts continue in the Nautilus Amphitheater with the all-new “BMX Blast!” — a high-energy stunt show “celebrating the history of extreme sports in Southern California.” World-class, daring BMX riders perform such stunts as “tail whips, bar spins and back flips” as they launch off of ramps, accompanied by a live band cranking out “the pop-punk hits of the late nineties.”
Kids especially will enjoy the all-new “Rhythm of the Reef Parade,” “in celebration of thewonders of the deep sea.” The parade includes favorite SeaWorld characters, floats, music and more.
While at SeaWorld San Diego, be sure to visit the immersive, new, “Jewels of the Sea: The Jellyfish Experience.” This large, informative and fun exhibit is filled with amazing jellies — “creatures that have roamed the oceans since before the age of dinosaurs. Discover the mysteries behind their stings and explore the unique characteristics that distinguish moon jellies from sea nettles, and so much more.”
For serious thrill seekers, SeaWorld San Diego also has a variety of roller coasters. Personally, I find some of them terrifying!
Since it was the Memorial Day weekend, we especially enjoyed the dazzling fireworks show in the skies high above SeaWorld San Diego, accompanied by rousing music.
We ended our day with “a dazzling display of vibrant laser lights, set to an electrifying summer soundtrack” in front of the SeaWorld Store, near the park gates.
All of this and much more is included in park ission, including general ission for the Summer Spectacular Concert Series at Bayside Amphitheater (June 21 to Aug. 23) (upgrading to reserved seating is also offered), “for an unforgettable musical journey featuring R&B, hip-hop and rap hits from the ‘90s and early 2000s. With the bay’s scenic views as our stunning backdrop, this is the ultimate spot to move to the sounds that defined a generation.”
For more information, visit the SeaWorld San Diego website at: https://seaworld.com/san-diego.
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